So, the 4x4 is dead? Tell that to the people who happily coped with the terrible weather which brought the rest of the country to a freezing stop recently.

Whatever critics say, 4x4s come into their own at these times.

I had the fortune to be in a Santa Fe during the worst of the weather, and it coped admirably. It didn’t stop me spending five hours gridlocked on Manchester Road, but I guess the vehicles which coped less weren’t Santa Fe models.

The Santa Fe is a simple proposition: it’s a proper 4x4, yet it is very keenly priced. It offers proper off-road capability for the price of a smaller run-of-the-mill model.

It’s a big, practical and stylish car and the current model is actually cheaper than its predecessor.

The main news is the Santa Fe’s world-class new powertrain, offering an impressive combination of performance and economy. It means that the Santa Fe is now comparable on price and emissions with MPVs and estate cars, and comfortably powers ahead of SUV rivals.

At the heart of this vehicle is a new 2.2-litre direct injection diesel engine that demonstrates major improvements over the outgoing version.

This new all-aluminium 2,199cc powerplant offers up 194bhp – more than the six-cylinder units offered in some rival vehicles.

But improvements in economy and emissions have pulled back running costs, and service intervals have been doubled to 20,000 miles.

Company car drivers with P11Ds to consider will find the lower price and CO2 levels reduce their contribution further still, with the Santa Fe dropping from 29 per cent to 26 per cent tax rates – saving company car drivers hundreds in tax every year.

But the Santa Fe is not just more efficient at tax avoidance than other 4x4 rivals. It can also now be a real alternative to MPVs and estate cars.

Residual values are also expected to improve still further due to the better specification and lower prices, placing it among the best in class for retained value.

And of course, the Santa Fe enjoys five years’ unlimited mileage warranty.

So, how does the Santa Fe measure up? It’s a big car, 4,660mm in length, which puts it between a Land Rover Freelander and Land Rover Discovery.

It’s a no-nonsense vehicle which lacks the flair of the more upmarket 4x4s such as Audi and Land Rover, but it’s neat.

While European car-makers might shout the loudest, Hyundai just gets on with the job in hand. Modest would be a fitting description for its Santa Fe.

On the outside, the updates are subtle – the car’s conservative, smooth lines have been retained. You won’t see much in the way of brash chrome trim or fussy details here. What you do get is a mid-size 4x4 that hides its size well with a combination of pleasing looks and a balanced sense of proportion.

The cabin, too, is easy to live with and very well built. Anyone seeking a glitzy cabin full of gimmicks will be disappointed. Mindful that some of these cars actually get used properly, Hyundai has opted for a more practical and durable approach.

Far from being plain, the Santa Fe’s cabin is full of high quality materials. Only this cabin doesn’t mind getting dirty, either.

Equipment levels are also good; the Premium-spec model boasts leather seats, iPod and MP3 music player inputs, electric everything, climate control and a plenty of cabin storage for maps, phones, drinks and the like.

You can also specify a seven-seat option, which goes a long way to cementing the Santa Fe’s role as a genuine family-orientated vehicle. In five-seat trim, it offers impressive luggage space, while the seven-seat option adds more versatility if you regularly carry a lot of people.

It’s this underlying versatility that’s most obvious in the way the Santa Fe drives. For most people buying SUVs, the default fuel has become diesel, and the Santa Fe’s new engine is an impressive and rounded performer. Refined, punchy, quiet when it needs to be and flexible when you want it to be, the 2.2-litre unit offers an excellent blend of performance, economy plus a sensible CO2 rating.

With its 194bhp, the engine allows for effortless cruising and towing plus more than enough grunt to easily embarrass other commuters. Away from the daily grind, the switchable all-wheel drive system ensures that you’ll never, within reason, be stuck.

Hyundai’s Santa Fe delivers a balanced mix of creature comforts, refinement and cabin space. The seven-seat variant adds another layer of versatility without any hint of compromise.

Factor in a genuinely impressive diesel engine, the smooth, optional auto gearbox and on-road performance to rival any similarly-priced large estate car plus Hyundai’s class-busting five-year warranty, and you don’t need to ask why Santa Fe is a good idea.

Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium five-seat manual:- PRICE: £23,370 ENGINE: a 2,199cc, four-cylinder unit generating 194bhp via four-wheel-drive PERFORMANCE: Top speed 118mph, 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds COSTS: urban (town) 32.1mpg; extra-urban (country) 50.4mpg; combined 41.5mpg INSURANCE: Group 30 EMISSIONS: 176g/km WARRANTY: Five years’ unlimited mileage Steve’s ratings: Performance: 4/5 Economy: 3/5 Ride/Handling: 3/5 Space/Practicality: 4/5 Equipment: 3/5 Security/Safety: 3/5 Value For Money: 4/5 OVERALL: 3/5